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JUNE 11, 2015
Please Interrupt Me |
"The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." Psalm 19:8 (NIV)
I wonder if the greatest witnessing tool available to us Christians is often pushed aside because of our busyness.
Recently, I was focused on all the items on my seemingly never-ending to-do list.
As I sat at a stoplight, a friend called and started lamenting that her son had forgotten his lunch and his belt required by the school’s uniform policy. She was stressed and trying to get in touch with her husband who’d just dropped off her son at school. She was at home with a new baby feeling groggy from a sleepless night and overwhelmed by her situation.
Her son could probably get his friends to share their lunches with him. But, the belt would be a problem. The school would call her when they noticed the missing belt and require her to bring one. She lives over 20 minutes from the school.
As I sat at the stoplight listening to my friend, I looked to the store off to my right. That store has belts. That store has lunch food.
I was faced with a decision: Could I help? Well, I could, but my schedule would have to be rearranged a bit. Would I help? My friend wasn’t asking for my assistance but in that moment, I knew it would be a tremendous blessing for her.
This day I wouldn’t let my busyness take precedence over the blessing of divine interruptions. So, I helped.
I don’t know this for sure, but I suspect my friend had been asking Jesus to help her. It’s hard being up half the night with a sleepless baby. It’s hard to find a new normal when life gets a little off-kilter by changes in the family dynamic. It’s hard when you need help but feel like everyone is so busy you hate to bother them.
Now I’ll admit, I’m a task-oriented person, so it doesn’t come naturally for me to look for interruptions in the midst of my busyness.
But sitting at that stoplight, I realized the power of pausing. Pausing just long enough for Jesus to tap on the edge of my heart and say, "Could you? Would you? Do this as if it’s the most important part of your day and not an unwelcome interruption."
The Bible teaches one of the most important precepts is love. When we love others we are living the message of Jesus. And listen to what Psalm 19:8 says, "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes."
Oh how many times have I missed the joy of pausing to live and love and light the world for Jesus? I suspect it’s happened more often than I’d like to admit.
But instead of getting stuck in what I might have missed, I’m choosing to see this as a wake-up call. I’m choosing to underwhelm my schedule so God can overwhelm my soul with these opportunities to love.
Dear Lord, help me pause today and remember my greatest witnessing tool is to simply be available to love others. Show me where I can love. Make me courageous enough to put aside my carefully planned to-do list. And help me find ways to be an answer to someone’s prayers today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
1 John 3:18, "Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." (NLT)
Psalm 39:6a, "We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing." (NLT)
RELATED RESOURCES:
If you’ve set your life to the rhythm of rush without any time to love others, Lysa TerKeurst understands. She wants to show you how to add white space back into your life with her book, The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands. Get your copy here.
For more encouragement, follow Lysa on Facebook!
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
Who in your life is currently going through a season where you could practically lend a hand?
Today, spend some time praying about ways you can create white space in your schedule to make yourself more available to help this person.
© 2015 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
630 Team Rd., Suite 100
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Thursday, 11 June 2015.
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